okay i have 8 cats all have fleas right now one in particular older male tabby cat behing right ear he has managed to itch a gash behind his ear looks horrible i got seargents flea spray suppose to last 18 days but 2 days later he scratched it open again anybody know any affordable yet good flea medication i can get for my cats? i am on budget so plz under 10 dollars maybe from wal-mart or something?"
2007-09-11 20:20:17 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Fleas have 4 stages to their life cycle......egg larvae, pupa and adult. The flea spray kills the adult flea. That leaves the egg, larvae, and pupa.
I would buy the bug bombs that specifically list the product as killing fleas. This will alleviate all of the adult fleas in those rooms for about 14 days..
The laundry booster Borax is one of the best long term flea solving products. Buy a box and poke small holes in the box to make it like a salt shaker. Vacuum all the infected parts of your living area and make sure that bag stays outside. Then sprinkle Borax into the carpets and broom it in whenever it looks heavy.
You will need to reapply Borax every time that you vacuum for the next several weeks. Borax will dry out the eggs, the larvae will eat the borax and die. That leaves the pupa. A nuclear blast wouldn't kill the flea in its pupa stage. Therefore you will need to *wait it out* until the pupa hatches as an adult flea........lays its eggs............ and then dies.
Once you get this under control you should continue to use Borax at least once per month and you will probably never see a flea again.
Borax is definitely under $10 and can be found at wal-mart in the laundry aisle. If you want to speed up the process then get the frontline or advantage and apply while your proceed as above.
2007-09-11 21:58:53 · answer #1 · answered by chicki 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately I don't know of any cheap or free way to get rid of fleas. here are my suggestions, it's what works for me.
I have four kitties and a Rottie and live in the country where they go inside and out at will. Never see a flea, I use revolution every month and treat my yard, just the acre right around the house, not the whole thing. I have never had much success with home remedies or off-brands for consistent flea prevention. Shampoos, sprays, and powders kill the fleas on them at the time but don't repel more from jumping on. You should try frontline (over counter), or revolution (which usually requires a prescription), and be consistent, use it once a month.
The eggs fall off and then hatch in your carpets, rugs, bedding, and furniture. You need to go to your local pet store and ask for a spray that is safe for use around your cat and spray the entire house, especially where the cats hang out, or try a bomb. Also, putting moth balls in your vacuum cleaner bag or canister will help to kill any eggs, fleas, or larva that are sucked up. Otherwise, they will hatch in the vacuum and crawl out later. If the pet goes outside you should also treat your yard. I use sevin dust. Apply just before a rain shower, or use a hose or sprinkler to wet the lawn immediately after application.
If the infestation of the home is too bad you may see persistent fleas and need to treat more than once, or call a professional. I know it's a lot of work, but once you've got them bad it can be expensive to fix. Also, once your cats are flea free, if they scratch a lot, then They may need to see the vet. They can develop a topical, or skin infection from digging themselves.
Flea collars should not be used with any other type of topical treatment such as frontline or revolution. Plus, they just don't work well, and pose more health risks to the pet than to the fleas. Good luck to you
2007-09-12 04:25:40 · answer #2 · answered by NinjenWV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest, if you really want something that will work..Your budget will not be helping you at all..
Usually over the counter flea products never work..ever...So the only thing you can really do to REALLY help with the fleas is call a vet, ask them how much frontline for cats is, then ask them how much advantage for cats is...
Goodluck
2007-09-12 03:40:29 · answer #3 · answered by Wakishea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get- advantage- for cats from a vet ($8), Be sure and treat your yard also are it is a waste of time to treat the cats. Now for the spot behind his ear -- use caladryl-- it will help with the itching and also has medicine for healing. I work at a vet and we recommend this all of the time. Good luck !!!!
2007-09-12 03:39:41 · answer #4 · answered by BABYDOLL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pick up Natural Chemistry De flea shampoo. It works great. I used it and got rid of the fleas.
2007-09-12 04:12:52 · answer #5 · answered by sweetangelgreeneyes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋